Chennai–Madurai AC Duronto Express

Chennai–Madurai AC Duronto Express
Overview
Service type	AC Duronto
Status	Permanently withdrawn from service
Locale	Tamil Nadu
First service	15 December 2012; 12 years ago (2012-12-15)[1]
Last service	March 2020; 4 years ago (2020-03)[2]
Current operator(s)	Southern Railway zone
Route
Termini	Chennai Central (MAS) Madurai Junction (MDU)
Stops	1[a]
Distance travelled	555 km (345 mi)
Average journey time	8 hrs 30 minutes
Service frequency	Bi-Weekly
Train number(s)	22205/22206
On-board services
Class(es)	First AC, Second AC, Third AC
Observation facilities	Large Windows
Technical
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Electrification	Yes
Operating speed	71 km/h (45 mph)

Chennai Madurai Duronto Express was a Duronto Express belonging to Indian Railways which was operated fully Air-Conditioned Superfast Bi-weekly train connecting Chennai and Madurai via Salem in Southern Railway zone. This train was cancelled with effect from 10 June 2020.

This Duronto Express now converted to a Chennai Central–Madurai AC Superfast Express. It runs three days a week along with the Chennai Central–Madurai AC Superfast Express (20601 / 20602) which runs once a week.

Background

The ever-growing inflow to the State Capital from Madurai and its neighboring districts and the heavy rail traffic on the Tambaram-Villupuram-Madurai section,^[3] is the prime reason behind operating the train from Chennai Central.^[4] And hence the fact that it takes a longer route via Salem, Namakkal, Karur, Dindugal. The train makes only one commercial halt at Salem Junction across the Chennai-Salem-Madurai line.^[5][6][7] It is now running with LHB rakes (Linke Hoffman Busch) from 26 JUNE 2018 and is maintained at Chennai Central.

Coach composition

The train consists of one 1 AC First/Executive Class (1A), 2 AC Two-tier (2A), 9 AC Three-Tier (3A) and 2 EOG.

Loco

EOG

B9

B8

B7

B6

B5

B4

B3

B2

B1

A2

A1

H1

EOG

Gallery

• 
  Chennai Central - Madurai Duronto arrived Madurai Junction
• 
  Duronto halted Parallel with Punalur-Madurai fast passenger
• 
  Duronto halted at Madurai Junction
• 
  A View of AC 2-tier (2A) Coach

See also

• Pandian Express
• Vaigai Express
• Duronto Express

Notes

1. Technical Halt.

References

1. "New Duronto train services to Madurai, T'puram from December 15". The Times of India. 13 December 2013. Archived from the original on 16 December 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
2. "Southern Railway cancels 9 train services due to low occupancy". The Hindu. 18 March 2020. Archived from the original on 21 October 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
3. "Chennai-Madurai Duronto by October". IBNLive.in. 14 July 2011. Archived from the original on 25 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
4. "Travel Chennai-Madurai non-stop on Duronto Express". The New Indian Express. 23 November 2012. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
5. "Chennai-Madurai Duronto Express likely from Nov". The Hindu. 14 July 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
6. "Madurai-Chennai Central Duronto Express likely from June". The Hindu. 18 May 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
7. "Two more non-stop Duronto trains from city". The Hindu. 10 December 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2013.